Relive the moments how Barangay Ginebra San Miguel honored Robert Jaworksi jersey retirement ceremony and showed their never say die spirit against Petron Blaze Boosters and rallied their way to a thrilling victory.

The addition of LA Tenorio to the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel lineup is certainly a big boost for the Gin Kings, according to coach Siot Tanquingcen.

“But that doesn’t necessarily mean it would guarantee the Gin Kings a championship. LA is definitely a big piece, a piece which I’ve been looking for the past few years. But we have to work everybody on the same page for us to be successful in the coming season,” Tanquingcen told InterAKTV.

Tanquingcen has long been in search for help at the point guard spot, with Jayjay Helterbrand already entertaining thoughts about retirement and Mike Cortez also advancing in age. Ginebra drafted four point guards in the PBA draft earlier this month.

But with Tenorio joining Ginebra, Tanquingcen no longer needs to roll the dice with rookies.

“No question on the capability of LA. He’s a player with championship experience and he’s also a big-time player. He just needs to get in the groove of what we do as a team,” said Tanquingcen.

Ginebra gave up Enrico Villanueva and two draft picks — first round in 2014 and second round in 2015 — in the deal, but the center’s departure will carve up some space in an overloaded frontcourt rotation that also features Kerby Raymundo, Billy Mamaril, Rudy Hatfled, Rico Maierhofer, Willie Wilson and rookie Keith Jensen.

Eric Menk said he has rejected Ginebra San Miguel’s offer to be part of coach Siot Tanquingcen’s coaching staff.

“Coach Siot offered me a position in the coaching staff, but couldn’t tell me what my salary would be if I accept it. I told him I wasn’t interested in coaching right now. That’s been the extent of my conversation with Ginebra since we lost last season. That happened August 23,” the 2004 PBA Most Valuable Player told InterAKTV in an overseas text message.

Eric Menk said his status is in limbo because the squad’s roster is full.

“I was told there is no spot for me there [in the Ginebra lineup],” Eric Menk said. “That’s because they have five Fil-Ams already and a full 14-man roster.”

PBA rules allows teams to suit up a maximum of five foreign-born players in each roster.

Agent Sheryl Reyes said that Eric Menk had approached her for help in sorting out the situation.

“He was clueless on how he would do things because no one from Ginebra has contacted him for quite some time, so I talked to Noli Eala,” said Reyes. “But Eric didn’t ask to be part of the coaching staff. It was offered to him.”

“I see him as a very smart player. Ang gusto ko sanang mangyari kay Eric is to play the same situation of Johnny Abarrientos during his latter years sa Ginebra,” Tanquingcen told InterAKTV. “He can help out sa skills ng mga big men namin, then when a need arises, pwede rin naming siyang bunutin para maglaro.”

Eric Menk, who turned 38 earlier this week, played in just seven games for Ginebra this season after nursing injuries. He averages career lows in minutes (8.9) and scoring (1.7).

Air 21, Petron, and Ginebra submitted a blockbuster three-way trade for the approval of the PBA on Wednesday.

In the deal, the Express will receive Petron big men Noy Baclao and Rob Reyes and Ginebra wingmen KG Canaleta and John Wilson; Petron will receive center Magi Sison, guard Paolo Hubalde, and a 2014 second round pick from Air 21; and Ginebra will receive Elmer Espiritu and Air 21′s first round pick in 2013.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud relayed news of the deal to InterAKTV, which reported initial details of the deal as early as last week.

“It’s already in our office and I will decide on it on Thursday,” said Salud, who has the authority to veto or revise deals he deems imbalanced.

Franz Pumaren earlier told InterAKTV that the team intended to build up its big man rotation, and this trade accomplishes exactly that. “At least we got our wish to beef up our frontline,” he said.

With the deal, Petron is able to carve out a rotation spot for June Mar Fajardo, the 6-foot-10 former University of Cebu slotman selected first overall in last Sunday’s draft, who will no longer have to contend with Baclao and Reyes for minutes at the crowded center position for the Boosters. Dorian Pena and Danny Ildefonso also play center for the team.

Ginebra, meanwhile, is building for the future with the trade, tabbing a first round pick that figures to be among the top selections next year.

Air 21 is also working on a deal to secure the services of forward Leo Najorda from Barako Bull. The Express are expected to give up Eric Salamat in the trade, but because the two teams are part-owned by the same company, Barako Bull and Air 21 are prohibited from trading directly with each other.

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel will continue to feature at least two Most Valuable Player awardees on its team for the 38th season, as coach Siot Tanquingcen confirmed the return of point guard Jayjay Helterbrand to team up with Mark Caguioa.

But the future of another Ginebra MVP, Eric Menk, still remains uncertain.

“Jayjay will be back, but Eric remains doubtful, although may plano naman kami na isama siya sa line up,” Tanquingcen told InterAKTV in a telephone interview.

“It depends on his condition. Last time, he was in the line up, but we just used him gradually. Ayaw naman naming na biglain siya kasi matagal siyang nawala.”

According to Tanquingcen, Menk is still in the United States and he hopes the veteran slotman will be ready for the coming season.

If he does return, the veteran center will have to battle it out in a crowded frontcourt that will feature rookie forwards Chris Ellis and Keith Jensen.

But Tanquingcen said even the two blue-chip first rounders will have to earn their stripes.

“Everyone should pass the training. They have to fight for their spots. No one is already guaranteed of a spot in the team,” said the coach.

Before the draft, Tanquingcen said that there were redundancies in the Ginebra roster. One forward, KG Canaleta, is scheduled to be traded to the Air 21 Express pending the finalization of deal details.

There could not have been a better ending to Ginebra Gin Kings Sunday night.

With big shots after the other, Ginebra Gin Kings pulled off an escape act over Petron, 87-85, in the semifinals of the 2012 PBA Governor’s Cup, on the same night that its most iconic player was being celebrated.

Import Cedric Bozeman delivered the game-clinching floater with three tenths of a second left in the clock after forward Dylan Ababou scored a crucial and-one as the Ginebra Gin Kings nabbed a crucial victory, which puts them by a full game over Petron.

“God couldn’t have written it better, on the night we’re celebrating the foundation of Ginebra which is coach Sonny,” said head coach Siot Tangquincen, whose squad is now at 7-4.

Tangquingcen admitted, on the other hand, that the final shot wasn’t supposed to go to Bozeman as it was for Caguioa.

But although he didn’t get the leather on the last play, Caguioa–expected to lead Ginebra like Robert “Sonny” Jaworski did–was still the best player of the court with 25 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Bozeman and Ababou chipped in 13 points apiece.

It was a game of runs, solid ‘playoff fouls’, and buzzer beater shots–one per each ending to a quarter–which was only fitting after a momentous ceremony for the PBA living legend Jaworksi.

No team gave an inch in the deciding period, especially the Gin Kings who had just wrestled the lead to their favor after playing catch up for most of the night.

Ginebra Gin Kings overhauled an 11-point deficit at the end of third and turned to Caguioa to give them the lead, 81-80, with his own four-point swing.

That lead was quickly neutralized by the Boosters in the final two minutes, and once again leaned on Alex Cabaganot to bail them out with a game-tying shot with 15.9 seconds left.

But Petron left enough time and room for Bozeman to score than final basket which led to its fifth setback with six victories, and now at the back of Ginebra.

The Boosters had the upperhand for the most part, as they weathered through all of the Gin Kings scoring burst–except for the last run–behind Dondon Hontiveros, Chriz Lutz and new import Marcus Faison.

Faison finished with 19 points but just scored two points in the fourth quarter, Lutz added 17 points while Hontiveros poured eight of his 11 markers in the third quarter.

Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters weathered the rally of Barangay Ginebra late in the game and held on for a 113-111 thrilling win and extend its winning streak to three games in the PBA Governors’ Cup Sunday night at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Jayson Castro scored the last six points of the Tropang Texters, including a miraculous bank shot that doused the uprising of the Kings.

Castro had a chance at a three-point play off a foul by Jayjay Helterbrand, but missed the bonus shot. But it gave Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters a 111-108 lead with 27.6 seconds remaining.

Mark Caguioa’s misfired a short jumper on the next play and Castro collared the board and sank two free throws to put the game away. Cedric Bozeman hit a three-pointer in the next possession for the Gin Kings, but Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters dribbled the time out.

“We want to get better in two things. To get better in things we normally do and to get better health-wise,” said Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes.

“We were able to weather the storm and without our top defensive players, we have to find ways to win and this time by outscoring them.”

Paul Harris finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds for the Tropang Texters, who improved their win-loss mark to 4-3.

Ranidel de Ocampo added 21 points while Larry Fonacier chipped in 19, including booming three-pointer from deep left corner for a 107-101 spread. That ended Ginebra’s 12-1 assault, masterminded by Caguioa, that cut Talk ‘N Text’s lead to just three points.

Castro also netted double figures with 18 while Japeth Aguilar was huge off the bench with 10 points and five rebounds.

Caguioa had a conference-high 32 points, while Bozeman also scored 32 for the Gin Kings, whose record dropped to 4-4. No other Ginebra player hit double figures in scoring.

“It’s going to be a tough week. We are preparing ourselves for that,” said Reyes, whose next assignment is B-MEG on Wednesday.

Mark Caguioa provided the needed spark for Barangay Ginebra as he anchored a scorching rally and led his team to an 83-80 come-from-behind win over Petron Blaze Sunday in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Mark Caguioa scattered 12 of his team-high 19 points in the final six minutes as he restored order to the Kings’ gloomy offense and helped his squad snap a two-game skid for a 3-2 mark.

“Honestly, ‘yung offense namin hindi ganoon kaganda. So when I came back, I just got the feel of the game,” said Mark Caguioa, who also had three rebounds. “I wasn’t really shooting that well.”

Staring a 73-66 deficit, the Ginebra spitfire was inserted back in the game after shooting horribly in the first three quarters, and he did not let his team down.

“It’s a great feeling. Mark Caguioa made it possible. He’s a scoring machine,” said Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen, who dedicated the win to San Miguel Corporation chairman Danding Cojuangco, who was celebrating his birthday. “I’m privileged working with these guys but it’s still a long way to go.”

Mark Caguioa hit a jumper and a three-pointer to ignite a 13-0 blast that allowed Ginebra to reclaim the lead at 79-73 with 51.7 seconds remaining.

Petron import Eddie Basden ended the drought with a lay-up. After Caguioa split his free throws, Basden scored anew in the next play to make it 80-77 with 32.1 seconds left.

Mark Caguioa was sent to the 15-foot line by Alex Cabagnot and calmly sank both charities. But Cabagnot made the game interesting with a three-pointer that cut the lead, 82-80, with 21.5 seconds left in the game.

Kerby Raymundo split his own charities off Arwind Santos’ foul, 83-80, giving Petron a shot to send the game into extra time.

But Cabagnot’s final three-point attempt fell short and the Boosters absorbed their second straight loss for a 3-3 win-loss mark.

Paul Lee drilled a cold-blooded three-pointer with 2.6 seconds to win the game for Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 93-90, over Barangay Ginebra Wednesday night in the PBA Governors Cup at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Lee’s heroics lifted the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to their fourth straight win, allowing them to post their best start in franchise history.

“Parang napanaginipan ko yun kagabi,” said Guiao about the thrilling ending. “I’m happy we treated fans to a nice game and happy we won a game as close as this one. We were able to stay focused and play through the pressure, which is good for us. For a young team like ours, this is big. It’s like winning two games.”

Lee, the second overall rookie pick this season, presided over his team’s final offensive thrust, a few moments after turning the ball over in one important play for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

The final play was intended for Rain or Shine Elasto Painters import Jamelle Cornley, who wasn’t able to get the ball because of tight defense by Ginebra’s Willie Wilson. That left Lee isolated against Rudy Hatfield.

The former UE guard made his move and let loose a jumper from right quartercourt over the outstretched arms of the veteran forward.

“We wanted the ball in Cornley’s hands, but the reason why we went to Paul is because we felt he’s the next best option. We want to put him in a win or overtime situation,” said Guiao.

After Lee’s three-pointer, Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen sued for time. The play was intended for Mark Caguioa coming off a screen and receiving the ball at the corner. But Caguioa couldn’t get open, and Ginebra instead went to import Cedric Bozeman, whose three-pointer barely hit the rim as Gabe Norwood secured the rebound and preserved the win for Rain or Shine.

“Cornley showed his true worth. He kept the team in the game and he showed his leaderships qualities on the floor,” said Guiao about his burly hardworking import, who finished with 27 points and 14 rebounds to lead the way for the Elasto Painters.